Alerts are categorized as high, medium, and low risk.
  • High risk alerts: Narratives with widespread circulation across communities, high engagement, exponential velocity, and a high potential to impact health decisions. Are often more memorable than accurate information.
  • Medium risk alerts: Narratives that are circulating in priority populations and pose some threat to health. Potential for further spread due to the tactics used or because of predicted velocity. Often highlights the questions and concerns of people.
  • Low risk alerts: Narratives that are limited in reach, don’t impact your community, or lack the qualities necessary for future spread. May indicate information gaps, confusion, or concerns.

A social post repeats the long-disproven myth that the elimination of polio was not due to vaccines but to reduced use of the pesticide DDT. The claim has persisted for years despite the fact that DDT was not used in some countries that had polio outbreaks, and outbreaks persisted—and still occur—in some countries long after DDT was banned. The post has been flagged as misinformation but remains up on the platform.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A short video clip circulating online claims to show the founder and CEO of a major social media platform warning his staff not to get COVID-19 vaccines because they can modify DNA. The clip is from a July 2020 virtual meeting, but posts sharing the clip falsely claim it is from August 2021.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A 25-year-old recent pharmacy school graduate who helped run vaccine clinics died of unknown causes late last year. Some vaccine opponents immediately speculated that the death was related to COVID-19 vaccines. Several weeks after the woman’s death, her father suffered an aortic dissection, a tear on the lining of the major blood vessel in the heart. The same bad actors are now claiming that both deaths were vaccine-related.

Recommendation: Low Risk Read More +

A website that is a frequent source of COVID-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories claims the CDC “quietly” published a report that revealed 118,000 young adults “died suddenly” following the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

The CDC investigated a potential link between the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 booster and increased stroke risk in older adults. The investigation found no increased stroke risk. Several news headlines noted the potential link but not the result of the investigation. As a result, vaccine opponents are falsely claiming that the CDC found a link.

Recommendation: High Risk Read More +

A widely circulated video features several false claims about COVID-19 vaccines, including that people who are fully vaccinated and boosted are more susceptible to COVID-19 than the unvaccinated. The video also falsely claims that COVID-19 vaccines are untested and are used to treat strep A bacteria infections, which cause strep throat and scarlet fever.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A widely shared social media thread and blog post claim that a member of Pfizer’s board of directors contacted the platform’s public policy manager to flag a post promoting natural immunity over vaccine immunity. The post in question claimed that immunity from COVID-19 infection was far superior to immunity from vaccination and that those who have had COVID-19 should be exempt from vaccination requirements. The post, which was not supported by scientific evidence, was flagged as misleading.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A social media account that has downplayed the seriousness of COVID-19—and was previously suspended for promoting misinformation—shared a text message purportedly from a former NFL player. The text states that the person believes the vaccine is responsible if they die or have a heart attack. A post sharing the image claims that we will see the impact of the vaccine in the next few years.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

Articles and social media posts are claiming that hundreds of athletes have collapsed or died after receiving COVID-19 vaccines. The number varies from post to post, but a common claim seems to be that around 1,600 athletes have been impacted. The claim is based on an article that uses unverified “data” on athlete deaths and compares these unsourced numbers to a 2006 peer-reviewed study of sudden deaths in athletes under the age of 35.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

After a football player went into cardiac arrest during a Monday night football game, social media users and several newsletter writers spread false claims that the player’s cardiac arrest was due to COVID-19 vaccines. Others speculated without evidence that while the player’s injury could have had another cause, perhaps vaccination made it worse.

Recommendation: High Risk Read More +

Alerts are categorized as high, medium, and low risk.
  • High risk alerts: Narratives with widespread circulation across communities, high engagement, exponential velocity, and a high potential to impact health decisions. Are often more memorable than accurate information.
  • Medium risk alerts: Narratives that are circulating in priority populations and pose some threat to health. Potential for further spread due to the tactics used or because of predicted velocity. Often highlights the questions and concerns of people.
  • Low risk alerts: Narratives that are limited in reach, don’t impact your community, or lack the qualities necessary for future spread. May indicate information gaps, confusion, or concerns.
Vaccine Misinformation Guide

Get practical tips for addressing misinformation in this new guide. Click image to download.

Vaccine Misinformation Guide

Get practical tips for addressing misinformation in this new guide. Click image to download, or see highlights